Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Alaska

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in Alaska run 2.4% above the national average (2024), so a Alaska salary is worth about 0.98× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Alaska.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Alaska

OccupationMedian, Alaska · Real change since 2019

1Social Workers, All Other$61,220
Bachelor's degree
$48,390 – $120,240-36.2%-19.7% nominal
2Labor Relations Specialists$77,870
Bachelor's degree
$49,870 – $130,200-35.0%-18.1% nominal
3Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,950
Bachelor's degree
$44,550 – $109,080-29.4%-11.1% nominal
4Advertising Sales Agents$43,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,850 – $111,150-28.5%-10.0% nominal
5First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$67,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $96,480-27.6%-8.8% nominal
6Healthcare Social Workers$62,000
Master's degree
$47,000 – $97,810-27.5%-8.7% nominal
7Coaches and Scouts$41,170
Bachelor's degree
$30,150 – $68,840-26.5%-7.4% nominal
8Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,200 – $99,840-25.4%-6.1% nominal
9Detectives and Criminal Investigators$114,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,680 – $183,680-25.3%-5.9% nominal
10Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$77,310
Bachelor's degree
$64,040 – $106,680-25.0%-5.6% nominal
11Self-Enrichment Teachers$47,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $85,880-24.9%-5.4% nominal
12Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$78,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,500 – $142,430-24.6%-5.1% nominal
13First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,350 – $106,070-24.6%-5.0% nominal
14Printing Press Operators$46,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,660 – $65,440-24.2%-4.6% nominal
15Insurance Sales Agents$50,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $88,190-23.8%-4.1% nominal
16Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$37,190
Some college, no degree
$27,440 – $57,210-23.3%-3.4% nominal
17Compliance Officers$76,430
Bachelor's degree
$47,290 – $126,920-22.5%-2.4% nominal
18Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $139,750-22.2%-2.0% nominal
19Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$56,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,530 – $96,920-21.8%-1.5% nominal
20Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$74,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,680 – $106,110-21.6%-1.3% nominal
21Skincare Specialists$41,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,600 – $47,980-21.5%-1.2% nominal
22Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants$26,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,770 – $44,830-21.4%-1.0% nominal
23Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,130
Bachelor's degree
$59,190 – $99,690-21.0%-0.6% nominal
24Roofers$66,750
No formal educational credential
$48,630 – $92,450-20.6%-0.1% nominal
25Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$66,710
Bachelor's degree
$44,320 – $99,990-20.3%+0.3% nominal
26Logisticians$87,280
Bachelor's degree
$57,960 – $133,090-20.2%+0.5% nominal
27Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$34,540
No formal educational credential
$24,770 – $45,040-19.5%+1.3% nominal
28Chefs and Head Cooks$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $91,520-19.4%+1.5% nominal
29Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,940
Bachelor's degree
$62,630 – $97,110-19.2%+1.7% nominal
30Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$46,680
Some college, no degree
$35,170 – $75,670-19.0%+2.0% nominal
31Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$55,220
Associate's degree
$37,500 – $95,740-18.4%+2.7% nominal
32Medical Equipment Preparers$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $77,590-18.3%+2.9% nominal
33Library Technicians$46,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,810 – $62,590-18.2%+3.0% nominal
34Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,990 – $99,980-18.1%+3.1% nominal
35Public Relations Specialists$70,050
Bachelor's degree
$45,140 – $117,210-18.1%+3.1% nominal
36Airfield Operations Specialists$71,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,780 – $105,060-18.0%+3.3% nominal
37Industrial Production Managers$113,280
Bachelor's degree
$70,640 – $175,600-17.8%+3.6% nominal
38Computer Programmers$91,700
Bachelor's degree
$64,150 – $138,530-17.7%+3.7% nominal
39Property Appraisers and Assessors$80,330
Bachelor's degree
$58,300 – $107,570-17.6%+3.8% nominal
40First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$98,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,220 – $131,900-17.3%+4.2% nominal
41Anthropologists and Archeologists$89,810
Master's degree
$62,550 – $130,270-17.1%+4.3% nominal
42Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $121,770-16.9%+4.7% nominal
43Firefighters$58,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,520 – $82,360-16.5%+5.2% nominal
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$56,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $100,500-16.5%+5.2% nominal
45Instructional Coordinators$72,320
Master's degree
$52,990 – $108,020-16.2%+5.5% nominal
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,650
Bachelor's degree
$63,360 – $98,140-15.6%+6.3% nominal
47Painters, Construction and Maintenance$60,980
No formal educational credential
$43,880 – $85,440-15.6%+6.3% nominal
48Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$77,080
Bachelor's degree
$48,250 – $165,900-15.5%+6.4% nominal
49Environmental Engineers$110,220
Bachelor's degree
$78,940 – $155,530-15.0%+7.0% nominal
50Millwrights$76,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,270 – $92,350-15.0%+7.1% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAlaska	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,220	$48,390 – $120,240	-36.2%-19.7% nominal
2	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$77,870	$49,870 – $130,200	-35.0%-18.1% nominal
3	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$60,950	$44,550 – $109,080	-29.4%-11.1% nominal
4	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,840	$30,850 – $111,150	-28.5%-10.0% nominal
5	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,760	$48,980 – $96,480	-27.6%-8.8% nominal
6	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$62,000	$47,000 – $97,810	-27.5%-8.7% nominal
7	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$41,170	$30,150 – $68,840	-26.5%-7.4% nominal
8	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$35,200 – $99,840	-25.4%-6.1% nominal
9	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,940	$79,680 – $183,680	-25.3%-5.9% nominal
10	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$77,310	$64,040 – $106,680	-25.0%-5.6% nominal
11	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,710	$36,830 – $85,880	-24.9%-5.4% nominal
12	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,150	$49,500 – $142,430	-24.6%-5.1% nominal
13	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$45,350 – $106,070	-24.6%-5.0% nominal
14	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,460	$30,660 – $65,440	-24.2%-4.6% nominal
15	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,500	$38,080 – $88,190	-23.8%-4.1% nominal
16	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$37,190	$27,440 – $57,210	-23.3%-3.4% nominal
17	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$76,430	$47,290 – $126,920	-22.5%-2.4% nominal
18	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,470	$52,040 – $139,750	-22.2%-2.0% nominal
19	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,730	$39,530 – $96,920	-21.8%-1.5% nominal
20	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,680	$42,680 – $106,110	-21.6%-1.3% nominal
21	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$41,240	$33,600 – $47,980	-21.5%-1.2% nominal
22	Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$26,350	$24,770 – $44,830	-21.4%-1.0% nominal
23	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,130	$59,190 – $99,690	-21.0%-0.6% nominal
24	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$66,750	$48,630 – $92,450	-20.6%-0.1% nominal
25	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,710	$44,320 – $99,990	-20.3%+0.3% nominal
26	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$87,280	$57,960 – $133,090	-20.2%+0.5% nominal
27	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,540	$24,770 – $45,040	-19.5%+1.3% nominal
28	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$39,170 – $91,520	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
29	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,940	$62,630 – $97,110	-19.2%+1.7% nominal
30	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$46,680	$35,170 – $75,670	-19.0%+2.0% nominal
31	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$55,220	$37,500 – $95,740	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
32	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$45,750 – $77,590	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
33	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,940	$35,810 – $62,590	-18.2%+3.0% nominal
34	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$65,990 – $99,980	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
35	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$70,050	$45,140 – $117,210	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
36	Airfield Operations SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,510	$43,780 – $105,060	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
37	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$113,280	$70,640 – $175,600	-17.8%+3.6% nominal
38	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$91,700	$64,150 – $138,530	-17.7%+3.7% nominal
39	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$80,330	$58,300 – $107,570	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
40	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,420	$82,220 – $131,900	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
41	Anthropologists and ArcheologistsMaster's degree	$89,810	$62,550 – $130,270	-17.1%+4.3% nominal
42	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$46,130 – $121,770	-16.9%+4.7% nominal
43	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,830	$35,520 – $82,360	-16.5%+5.2% nominal
44	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,830	$41,600 – $100,500	-16.5%+5.2% nominal
45	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$72,320	$52,990 – $108,020	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,650	$63,360 – $98,140	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
47	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$60,980	$43,880 – $85,440	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
48	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$77,080	$48,250 – $165,900	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
49	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,220	$78,940 – $155,530	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
50	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,940	$54,270 – $92,350	-15.0%+7.1% nominal

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Alaska to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Alaska

More for Alaska

Metro areas in Alaska

By field in Alaska

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state